Getting to fly on a double-decker jet — especially at the very front of the plane — is a dream for many AvGeeks, myself included. But with the right stash of points and miles, booking this aspirational flight is possible without draining your savings.
This April, Etihad Airways’ iconic Airbus A380 will officially return to service between New York and Abu Dhabi after a 4-year hiatus.
This goliath of a jet can seat nearly 500 passengers across economy, business class, and first class, ranking year after year as one of the best ways to fly in comfort and style.
The airline was set to retire this massive aircraft amid the pandemic, but Etihad has fortunately scrapped plans to do so and will bring it back on this popular route soon.
When I heard the A380 was due to come back in service, I shelled out hundreds of thousands of miles to book 2 Etihad’s first class “The Apartment” seats with my friend this November. Here’s how I did it.
A380 Returning on Etihad’s New York to Abu Dhabi Service
Starting April 22, 2024, Etihad will fly the A380 on one of 2 daily nonstop services between New York (JFK) and Abu Dhabi (AUH).
“Putting the A380 on the popular New York route makes sense as we satisfy customer demand for more capacity, further growing our expanding network,” said Antonoaldo Neves, Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Airways, in a statement about the service.
Etihad will operate the other New York to Abu Dhabi route with a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft. For those seeking the superjumbo, here’s the timetable of this service:
- New York (JFK) to Abu Dhabi (AUH) — 3:30 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. (plus 1 day)
- Abu Dhabi (AUH) to New York (JFK) — 2:55 a.m. to 9:15 a.m.
What makes Etihad’s A380 special?
Look beyond the 415 economy seats, 70 business class seats, and 9 “The Apartment” first class seats, and there’s 1 coveted seat known as “The Residence,” which is the only 3-room suite in the sky.
Etihad’s The Residence seat is something of dreams, more akin to a private jet experience complete with butler service. This suite can accommodate up to 2 guests with a private living room, bedroom, and a private bathroom.
However, The Residence seat costs significantly more miles to book, so I set my sights on booking Etihad’s The Apartment class.
Still in a league of its own, Etihad’s The Apartment seats come with impressive food and drink, a nearly 7-foot bed and lounger bench, and a shower in the sky. It really doesn’t get much better than this!
How to Book Etihad First Class Flights With Points and Miles
With the A380 returning in service to the New York to Abu Dhabi route, I knew this was my chance to book these first class seats with miles.
The Etihad Guest program is the best bet for reliably finding first class seats. According to Etihad’s award chart, redemptions start at 160,000 Miles one-way for the airline’s route with the 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft.
If you want to book The Apartment class, you’ll redeem 200,000 Miles one-way and $544 in taxes and fees. (This is significantly reduced from the previous 220,000 Miles rate — nearly a 30% savings from Etihad’s old award chart!).
I decided to spend the Miles for my upcoming trip to Abu Dhabi to get the dates I needed this November. For 2 passengers, that meant a grand total of 800,000 Miles round-trip and nearly $2,000 in taxes and fees.
Considering the cash cost of these tickets is nearly $19,000 apiece, I’m still getting plenty of value for my redemption. If you’ve got millions of points to burn, why not redeem them for a dream trip?
Hot Tip: In the past, we’ve sent out deal alerts when we find award space for Etihad first class — make sure to subscribe to our newsletter so you don’t miss out on the next one!
How I Earned 800,000+ Membership Rewards® Points
Booking not just 1 — but 2 seats — in Etihad’s famed The Apartment class is a lofty goal, as it requires you to earn a ginormous haul of Etihad Guest Miles.
As American Express® Membership Rewards points* transfer at a 1:1 ratio to Etihad Guest, I honed in on this program to earn the 800,000 points required for these flights.
As a business owner, I carry the powerful one-two punch combination of The Business Platinum® Card from American Express and the American Express® Business Gold Card to earn millions of points every year.
OUR BEST OFFER
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
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The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.
This card is ideal for business travelers who enjoy luxury travel and are looking for a card loaded with benefits!
(at Amex's secure site)
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express
This card is ideal for business travelers who enjoy luxury travel and are looking for a card loaded with benefits!
Earn 120,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases with your Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.
120,000 points
$2,640
$695
19.49% - 28.49% Variable
Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
Good to Excellent (670-850)
The Business Platinum Card® from American Express is a premium travel rewards card tailored toward business owners who are frequent travelers with a high number of annual expenses.
When you factor in the large number of perks that the card offers like the best airport lounge access at over 1,400 lounges, along with tons of annual credits, it’s easy to see why this card can is a top option for frequent traveling business owners.
Hot Tip:Check to see if you’re eligible for a huge welcome bonus offer of up to 170,000 points with the Amex Business Platinum. The current public offer is 120,000 points. (This targeted offer was independently researched and may not be available to all applicants.)
Pros
- 5x Membership Rewards points per $1 on flights and prepaid hotels at Amex Travel
- Up to $200 annual airline fee credit on your selected qualifying airline
- Statement credits on select purchases with your card
- 35% airline bonus when using Pay With Points (up to 1,000,000 bonus points per calendar year)
- Access to over 1,400 worldwide airport lounges as part of the American Express Global Lounge Collection
- Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit
- Get 50% more Membership Rewards points (1.5 points per $1) on eligible purchases in key business categories, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more (cap applies)
- Access to Amex’s Fine Hotels & Resorts program
Cons
- High annual fee of $695 (rates and fees)
- Airline fee credit does not cover airfare, only incidentals like checked bags
- Welcome Offer: Earn 120,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $15,000 on eligible purchases with your Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.
- 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels on AmexTravel.com, and 1X points for each dollar you spend on eligible purchases.
- Earn 1.5X points (that’s an extra half point per dollar) on each eligible purchase at US construction material, hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers, and software & cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more everywhere else, on up to $2 million of these purchases per calendar year.
- Unlock over $1,000 in annual statement credits on a curation of business purchases, including select purchases made with Dell Technologies, Indeed, Adobe, and U.S. wireless service providers.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Get up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year for incidental fees charged by your one selected, qualifying airline to your Card.
- $189 CLEAR® Plus Credit: Use your card and get up to $189 in statement credits per calendar year on your CLEAR® Plus Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Business Platinum Card®.
- The American Express Global Lounge Collection® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card issuer on the market as of 03/2023.
- $695 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
Financial Snapshot
- APR: 19.49% - 28.49% Variable
- Foreign Transaction Fees: None
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- Amex Business Platinum vs Amex Platinum
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BEST FOR BONUSES
American Express® Business Gold Card
U.P. Rating
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.
Get 4x points in 2 select categories where your business spends the most each month (on your first $150,000 spent each year).
(at Amex's secure site)
American Express® Business Gold Card
Get 4x points in 2 select categories where your business spends the most each month (on your first $150,000 spent each year).
Earn 70,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $10,000 on eligible purchases with the Business Gold Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership
70,000 points
$1,540
$375
19.49% - 28.49% Variable
Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
Good to Excellent (670-850)
The American Express® Business Gold Card is excellent at racking up rewards for your business spend.
The card earns a whopping 4x points per $1 in the 2 categories (from a list of 6) that your business spends the most money on each month. With no need to opt-in or preselect your categories, so you can focus on what matters most — running your business.
Pros
- 4x points per dollar spent on your 2 highest purchase categorieseach month up to $150,000 each calendar year in purchases; categories include:
- NEW! Transit purchases including trains, taxicabs, rideshare services, ferries, tolls, parking, buses, and subways
- NEW!U.S. purchases made from electronic goods retailers and software & cloud system providers
- NEW!Monthly wireless telephone service charges made directly from a wireless telephone service provider in the U.S.
- U.S. purchases at gas stations
- U.S. purchases at restaurants, including takeout and delivery
- Purchases at U.S. media providers for advertising in select media (online such as Google Ads, Facebook Ads, plus TV and radio)
- 3x points per dollar on flights and prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com using your Business Gold Card
- Access to Amex’s The Hotel Collection
- Purchase protection and extended warranty protection
- Trip delay insurance
- Car rental insurance
- Cell phone insurance
Cons
- $375 annual fee (rates and fees)
- No elite travel benefits like airport lounge access or elite status
- Welcome Offer: Earn 70,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $10,000 on eligible purchases with the Business Gold Card within the first 3 months of Card Membership.*
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points on the 2 categories where your business spends the most each billing cycle from 6 eligible categories. While your top 2 categories may change, you will earn 4X points on the first $150,000 in combined purchases from these categories each calendar year (then 1X thereafter). Only the top 2 categories each billing cycle will count towards the $150,000 cap.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels booked on amextravel.com using your Business Gold Card.
- Earn up to $20 in statement credits monthly after you use the Business Gold Card for eligible U.S. purchases at FedEx, Grubhub, and Office Supply Stores. This can be an annual savings of up to $240. Enrollment required.
- Get $12.95 back in statement credits each month when you pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) with your Business Gold Card. $12.95 plus applicable taxes.
- Your Card – Your Choice. Choose from Gold or Rose Gold.
- *Terms Apply
Financial Snapshot
- APR: 19.49% - 28.49% Variable
- Foreign Transaction Fees: None
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The Amex Business Platinum card is packed with a lot of travel benefits, including its lounge access and dominant 5x point earning rate on flights and prepaid hotels booked through AmexTravel.com. On the everyday side of things, I can earn 1.5x points on useful business categories (on up to $2 million per calendar year), which includes purchases at U.S. shipping providers and purchases over $5,000. Earn 1x points on other purchases. Terms apply.
Paired with the Amex Business Gold card, I’ve got a points-earning powerhouse. This business card offers benefits, including the ability to earn 4x points on the top 2 eligible categories where your business spends the most each month, on up to $150,000 in combined purchases from these categories each calendar year, then 1x points thereafter. I consistently max these out with purchases at select U.S. media providers for advertising in select media (online, TV, radio), and U.S. purchases made from software and cloud system providers.
That’s why having both Amex business cards can be beneficial for business owners who spend a ton of money every single year. It’s a win-win as you can maximize your expenses and reinvest into your travels. For me, that meant booking Etihad’s The Apartment class!
Even if you don’t own a business, you can mimic a similar strategy with Amex’s line-up of personal cards: The Platinum Card® from American Express and the American Express® Gold Card.
BEST LOUNGE ACCESS
The Platinum Card® from American Express
U.P. Rating
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.
The Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.
(at Amex's secure site)
The Platinum Card® from American Express
The Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.
Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on the Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
80,000 points
$1,760
$695
See Pay Over Time APR
Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
Good to Excellent (670-850)
When it comes to cards that offer top-notch benefits, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better card out there than The Platinum Card® from American Express.
Make no mistake — the Amex Platinum cardis a premium card with a premium price tag. With amazing benefits like best-in-class airport lounge access, hotel elite status, and tremendous value in annual statement credits, it can easily prove to be one of the most lucrative cards in your wallet year after year.
Pros
- The best airport lounge access out of any card (by far) — enjoy access to over 1,400 worldwide lounges, including the luxurious Amex Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges, Plaza Premium Lounges, and many more!
- 5x points per dollar spent on flights purchased directly with the airline or with AmexTravel.com (up to $500,000 per year)
- 5x points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels booked with AmexTravel.com
- Annual and monthly statement credits upon enrollment (airline credit, Uber Cash credit, Saks Fifth Avenue credit, streaming credit, prepaid hotel credit on eligible stays, Walmart+ credit, CLEAR credit, and Equinox credit)
- TSA PreCheck or Global Entry credit
- Access to American Express Fine Hotels and Resorts
- Access to Amex International Airline Program
- No foreign transaction fees (rates and fees)
Cons
- $695 annual fee (rates and fees)
- Airline credit does not cover airfare (only incidentals like checked bags)
- Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 on purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Apply and select your preferred metal Card design: classic Platinum Card®, Platinum x Kehinde Wiley, or Platinum x Julie Mehretu.
- Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
- $200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
- $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peaco*ck, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
- $155 Walmart+ Credit: Cover the cost of a $12.95 monthly Walmart+ membership (subject to auto-renewal) with a statement credit after you pay for Walmart+ each month with your Platinum Card®. Cost includes $12.95 plus applicable local sales tax. Plus Up Benefits are excluded.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card®.
- $200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status is available to Basic Card Member only. Terms Apply.
- $300 Equinox Credit: Get up to $300 back in statement credits per calendar year on an Equinox membership, or an Equinox club membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you pay with your Platinum Card®. Enrollment required. Visit https://platinum.equinox.com/ to enroll.
- $189 CLEAR® Plus Credit: Breeze through security with CLEAR Plus at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues nationwide and get up to $189 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Platinum Card®. Learn more.
- $100 Global Entry Credit: Receive either a $100 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
- Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card®. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $300 SoulCycle At-Home Bike Credit: Get a $300 statement credit for the purchase of a SoulCycle at-home bike with your Platinum Card®. An Equinox+ subscription is required to purchase a SoulCycle at-home bike and access SoulCycle content. Must charge full price of bike in one transaction. Shipping available in the contiguous U.S. only. Enrollment Required.
- Unlock access to exclusive reservations and special dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy when you add your Platinum Card® to your Resy profile.
- $695 annual fee.
- Terms Apply.
Financial Snapshot
- APR: See Pay Over Time APR
- Foreign Transaction Fees: None
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BEST FOR DINING
American Express® Gold Card
U.P. Rating
The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.
This is the best card for food lovers who dine out at restaurants (worldwide), order take-out and want big rewards at U.S. supermarkets!
(at Amex's secure site)
American Express® Gold Card
This is the best card for food lovers who dine out at restaurants (worldwide), order take-out and want big rewards at U.S. supermarkets!
Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months.
60,000 points
$1,320
$250
See Pay Over Time APR
Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.
Good to Excellent (670-850)
The American Express® Gold Cardis a game-changer.
With this card, you can earn 4x Membership Rewards points at restaurants and you’ll also earn 4x Membership Rewards points at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1x.
There isn’t another card on the market that offers a 1-2 punch like this. Of course, there are several other benefits of the Gold Card as well, including extra monthly dining rewards and more.
Pros
- 4x points per dollar at restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S.
- 4x points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets, up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases; and 1x thereafter
- 3x points per dollar on flights purchased directly from airlines or at Amex Travel
- Up to $120 annual dining credit: up to $10 monthly statement credit when you pay with the Amex Gold card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations
- Up to $120 in annual Uber Cash: get $10 monthly in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S. when you add your Gold Card to your Uber account
- No foreign transaction fees (see rates and fees)
- Access to Amex’s The Hotel Collection
- Access to American Express transfer partners
Cons
- $250 annual fee (see rates and fees)
- No lounge access
- Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® Points at Restaurants, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S., and earn 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per calendar year in purchases, then 1X).
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and each month automatically get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S., totaling up to $120 per year.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings and earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, Milk Bar and select Shake Shack locations. Enrollment required.
- Get a $100 experience credit with a minimum two-night stay when you book The Hotel Collection through American Express Travel. Experience credit varies by property.
- Choose the color that suits your style. Gold or Rose Gold.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $250.
- Terms Apply.
Financial Snapshot
- APR: See Pay Over Time APR
- Foreign Transaction Fees: None
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How To Transfer Amex Membership Rewards Points to Etihad Guest
Amex Membership Rewards points transfer to 20-plus airline and hotel transfer partners, including Etihad Guest. To begin the transfer process to Etihad, you’ll need to sign up for a frequent flyer account with Etihad.
Once you’ve signed up, log into your eligible American Express account. Click “Explore Rewards” and “Transfer Points” to see the entire list of participating programs. You’ll click on Etihad Guest and enter your loyalty account number, along with the exact number of points you’ll need to book the desired flight.
There’s usually a verification process involved to finalize your transfer, so make sure to have your Amex card handy to enter the 4-digit CSC code. Amex says it could take around 48 hours to complete the transfer, so confirm that your dates are available before initiating the process.
Once complete, you’ll receive an email that the transfer has been completed. In my experience, my Miles took just under 24 hours to show up in my Etihad Guest account.
Fortunately, my desired dates were still bookable via Miles, so I was able to confirm The Apartment seats in no time.
Final Thoughts
In my opinion, there’s no better way to book Etihad’s iconic The Apartment class than through its own loyalty program. While it requires 200,000 Miles for first class, travelers can strategize ways to earn the rewards required for this coveted redemption.
All told, I can’t wait to experience Etihad’s The Apartment seats again, as it has been over 4 years since my last flight with the airline.
*Membership Rewards® Program
Terms and Conditions for the Membership Rewards® program apply. Visitmembershiprewards.com/termsfor more information. Participating partners and available rewards are subject to change without notice.
The value of Membership Rewards points varies according to how you choose to use them. To learn more, go towww.membershiprewards.com/pointsinfo.
For rates and fees of The Platinum Card® from American Express, click here.
For rates and fees of The Business Platinum Card® from American Express, click here.
For rates and fees of the American Express® Gold Card, clickhere.
For rates and fees of the American Express® Business Gold Card, click here.
